News In Brief

December 7, 1983

Washington
— Lebanon force should end, UN chief says; US is firm

The US has pledged to stand firm and continue exercising what it calls its right of self-defense in Lebanon while UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar has called for an end to all use of force there.

Secretary of State George Shultz told a news conference Monday the US did not want to get involved in the conflict in Lebanon, but he added: ''We will defend ourselves.''

He said the Syrians knew they were firing on US reconnaissance planes Saturday. The raid, in which two US planes were shot down, one pilot reported killed, and another captured, was termed a success by the Pentagon.